A National Audit Office report indicates that nearly 9,000 individuals in England and Wales, who are required to wear electronic monitoring tags, currently do not have them. This includes violent offenders and those released from prison, raising concerns about public safety and the efficiency of the monitoring system.
The Ministry of Justice disputes the report's figures, asserting that their review shows about 5,450 unmonitored individuals. The NAO has criticized the existing system as inadequate, highlighting the need for improvements in monitoring and response to breaches, especially as more offenders may be released into the community under new legislation.